Text 3. The British climate

Here are some common ideas that people have about the weather in Britain. Are they true?

Britain has a variable climate. The weather changes so frequently that it is difficult to forecast. It is not unusual for people to complain that the weathermen were wrong. Fortunately, as Britain does not experience extreme weather conditions, it is never very cold or very hot. The temperature rarely rises above 32 C in summer or falls below -14 C in winter.

Summers are generally cool, but due to global warming they are starting to get drier and hotter. Newspapers during a hot spell talk of «heatwaves and an Indian summer» (dry, hot weather in September or October). Hot weather causes terrible congestion on the roads as Britons rush to the coastal resorts.

Winters are generally mild, with the most frequent and prolonged snowfalls in the Scottish Highlands, where it is possible to go skiing. If it does snow heavily in other parts of Britain, the country often comes to a standstill. Trains, buses and planes are late. People enjoy discussing the snow, complaining about the cold and comparing the weather conditions with previous winters.

Contrary to popular opinion, it does not rain all the time, but the months from September to January are the wettest. Thanks to the rain Britain has a richly fertile countryside which is famous for its deep green colour.

Since the 1950s, most British cities have introduced clean air zones. Factories and houses cannot burn coal and must use smokeless fuel. The dirt caused by smoke causes terrible fogs, particularly in London. Londoners used to call their fogs «London Particulars» or «peasoupers» (as thick as pea soup) and you could not see your hand in front of you. Such fogs are now a thing of the past, but you can still see them in old films where they add mystery and atmosphere to murder stories and thrillers.

 

Vocabulary:

variable                     - непостоянный, изменчивый

frequently (ant. rarely) - часто (ант. редко)

to forecast                  - предсказывать (в т.ч. погоду)

to complain                - жаловаться, сетовать

weathermen               - синоптики

to be wrong             - ошибаться

fortunately               - к счастью    

due to = thanks to    - ввиду, благодаря

to experience           - испытывать (на себе)    

global warming       - глобальное потепление

a hot spell                - короткий жаркий период времени

to cause                   - вызывать, быть причиной

congestion               - скопление машин на дорогах, «пробки»

coastal resorts          - прибрежные курорты

mild                         - мягкий

previous                  - предыдущий

contrary to              - в противоположность

richly fertile           - весьма плодородные (почвы)

famous                   - знаменитый, известный

to introduce           - вводить

thriller                   - триллер

Round Britain Quiz

Which sea separates England from Ireland?

A. the North Sea b. the Atlantic Ocean c. the Irish Sea

How many countries make up Great Britain?

A. four b. three c. five

What nationality are the people of the Northern Ireland?

A. English b. Irish c. British

In which country is the Lake District?

A. Scotland b. England c. Wales

Where are Britain’s ski resorts?

A. the Pennines b. the Cheviots c. the Scottish Highlands

What is the climate in Britain like?

A. tropical b. changeable c. Arctic

Which of these countries has road signs in two languages?

A. England b. Scotland c. Wales

Rainfall in Britain is the heaviest in

A. autumn and winter b. winter and spring c. spring and summer